Miami waiting on computers, coach

Alabama has shown interest in Davis

MIAMI -- Alabama needs a head coach, and the school's officially in hot pursuit of the University of Miami's Butch Davis.

The rumors became official Friday, when UM Athletic Director Paul Dee accepted a telephone call from Alabama on behalf of Davis.

Dee had a quick answer.

''Yes, you to him,'' Dee said. ''But he's going to cost you a lot of money.''

That's because Dee and UM's Board of Trustees don't want to lose Davis, and so they've already put together a contract extension that comes with a big, fat raise. Davis is in the fourth year of a seven-year deal believed to pay him $900,000 a year. Though Dee wouldn't detail specifics of the contract extension, he met with Davis last week to outline the package.

''He's considering it,'' Dee said. ''We will wait and see what he wants to do.''

Dee walked onto the practice field Friday to inform Davis of Alabama's inquiry.

''He told me, but I didn't know anything about it,'' Davis said.

After routing Boston College, 52-6, on Saturday, Davis bolted the locker room with a pair of state patrol officers leading interference in a hurried walk to meet his wife, Tammy, at a post-game coaches' reception. Davis doesn't want to be cornered on what he's thinking. Not yet. He wants some time, and in this case, time really is money. Potentially, lots more money for Davis. As coach of the No. 2 team in the country, he's hot. The longer he waits to sign UM's contract extension, the more colleges and pro teams are sure to come calling.

''I want to take a couple days of R&R,'' Davis said without breaking stride. ''Call me next week.''

Pressed on what he thinks of UM's offer, Davis conceded he's mulling it over, but this doesn't look like a simple ''take it or leave it'' offer. Apparently, there's still some room for negotiating.

''Paul gave me a rough outline,'' Davis said. ''I've been so focused on this last game, I really haven't had time to seriously think about it. We will get together again this week and talk.''

There is more to talk about that whether Davis can garner a salary that's anything close to the $2 million a year Steve Spurrier gets at Florida or $1.5 million a year Bobby Bowden gets at Florida State. Davis wants UM's football facilities upgraded, and he's miffed the City of Coral Gables has consistently delayed approval of an $8 million renovation of the coaches' offices, weight room and locker rooms.

That Davis, 49, would bolt UM for Alabama just when his magnificent rebuilding project is blossoming makes little sense. After Alabama announced Wednesday that NCAA investigators are coming to interview former coaches and players, it make even less sense. The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported the NCAA has been looking into Alabama recruiting practices for more than a year.

While it's difficult to imagine Davis leaving UM's fertile recruiting ground for another college job, it's fairly easy to see him roaming an NFL sideline someday. He won two Super Bowl rings as an assistant with the Dallas Cowboys, one as defensive coordinator. His best friends are NFL coaches. He still follows the game.

Down in Houston, where the expansion Texans are planning to make their NFL debut in 2002, there's a job perfect for a coach with a history of thriving in adverse situations.

Davis has earned the right to reflect on a wonderful season. In six years, he has done more than turn around a program wounded by NCAA sanctions. He turned those renegade 'Canes into one of college football's most gentlemanly teams. In 1995, Dee was so intent on instilling discipline, he tried to woo Joe Paterno away from Penn State, and Paterno conceded he spent a night sleeping on the wild possibility. Davis doesn't get enough credit for cleaning up the mess.

The problem now is that the longer Davis waits to accept Dee's offer, the more it appears he's waiting for a better offer, maybe an NFL offer.